Patients' and health professionals' research priorities for chronic pain associated with inflammatory bowel disease: a co-produced sequential mixed methods Delphi consensus study.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is common and detrimental to quality of life. Recent Cochrane reviews identified a multitude of randomised controlled trial interventions, but the certainty of the findings is low or very low. We set out to reach a patient and professional co-produced Delphi consensus on treatment priorities, key outcomes and propose a model for understanding our findings. METHODS: An online survey was co-produced with Crohn's and Colitis UK and sent to patients and healthcare professionals in two phases, for prioritisation of treatments and outcome measures. Phase three consisted of four online group interviews, where patients and healthcare professionals discussed the rationale of their choices. Transcripts were combined with the free text data from the Delphi surveys and analysed through a three-phase qualitative technique. RESULTS: The phase 1 survey was completed by 128 participants (73 patients, 3 carers and 53 health professionals). Diet was the top priority for both patients (n=26/73, 36.1%) and healthcare professionals (n=29/52, 56.9%). Phase 2 was completed by 68 participants. FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) diet, stress management therapy and relaxation therapy were the top three consensus priorities. Phase 3 group interviews were attended by 13 patients and 5 healthcare professionals. Key themes included: The patient as an individual, beliefs and experiences, disease activity influencing therapy choice, accessibility barriers and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Low FODMAP diet, followed by psychological therapies were the highest-rated research priorities for healthcare professionals and patients. Funding bodies and researchers should consider these findings, alongside the model for understanding our findings, when making research decisions.

The influence of supragastric belching severity on esophageal acid exposure and motility.

BACKGROUND: Supragastric belching (SGB) is a phenomenon where air is rapidly sucked from the pharynx into the esophagus and immediately expelled through abdominal straining. It is considered a behavior disorder and is increasingly recognized not only in patients with excessive belching, but also in those with reflux-like symptoms. Increased prevalence of esophageal hypomotility and increased acid exposure were previously reported in small cohorts of SGB patients. We aimed to clarify the impact of SGB on motility, reflux, and acid exposure in a large cohort of SGB patients. METHODS: In a single-center database study, we searched for patients with pathological SGB. MII-pH and Manometry tracings were manually re-evaluated in all patients. Demographic, clinical, motility, reflux, and SGB-related data were gathered. KEY RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-eight patients were included. Heartburn, belching, and regurgitation were the most common symptoms. Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) was found in 27% of patients. SGB related to 47% of all reflux and to 53.6% of acid reflux events, and accounted for 27.3% of acid exposure time (AET). In those with severe SGB, 62% of acid reflux events and 46% of AET were SGB-related. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Supragastric belching is common, associated with higher incidence of IEM and is responsible for almost a third of esophageal acid burden. The impact of SGB is proportional to its severity. Diagnosis of SGB should be sought in patients with excessive belching and in patients with refractory reflux symptoms. Recognizing SGB and treating patients with behavioral therapy may alleviate acid exposure and improve quality of life.

Eosinophilic esophagitis in children: current knowledge to open new horizons.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune/antigen-mediated condition which is also driven by genetic and environmental factors. It has been deeply investigated over the last years and its incidence is widely increasing in childhood. Although atopic diseases are closely linked with EoE, it does not recognize a classical IgE-mediate immune pathogenesis but it is rather a T helper type 2 inflammatory process. Familial clustering supports genetic predisposition in EoE and recent advances in understanding the genetic basis for EoE may eventually translate into targeted management of the disease. EoE diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, micro, and macroscopic findings along with exclusion of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) evidence. Management of the disease encompasses both dietary and pharmacological solutions that need to be specifically targeted on patients' history, clinical symptoms, and diagnostic evaluations. New therapies, currently not available in children, may represent the basis for future therapeutic options in the next years.

Cerebrospinal fluid protein and glucose levels in neonates with a systemic inflammatory response without meningitis.

BACKGROUND: It has been estimated that paediatric meningitis without elevated CSF white cell count (pleocytosis) accounts for 0.5-12% of all cases of bacterial meningitis. CSF protein and glucose measurements are therefore essential in management but may be neglected in clinical practice. In order to improve recognition of bacterial meningitis in neonates and to enable adequate management and audit, we investigated whether a systemic inflammatory response in the absence of meningitis is associated with elevated CSF protein and reduced CSF glucose levels. A further aim was to determine whether abnormal levels of these parameters were associated with increased incidence of neurological damage. METHODS: As part of an audit into management of abnormal CSF findings in neonates, we conducted a retrospective analysis of neonates without meningitis as evident from normal CSF white blood cell counts and negative CSF culture. We compared data from neonates with fever (temperature > 38.0 °C) and/or elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (> 5 mg/l) (possible sepsis) with data from neonates without fever or CRP elevation. RESULTS: We analysed results from a total of 244 neonates. CSF protein levels were 0.89 g/l (SD 0.37) in neonates without fever or elevated CRP (n = 26) and not significantly different from neonates with possible sepsis (n = 218) with 0.92 g/l (SD 0.40). CSF glucose levels in infants with possible sepsis were 2.71 (SD 0.83) mmol/l and not significantly different from infants without sepsis with 2.55 mmol/l (SD 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: CSF protein and glucose levels are not affected by a systemic inflammatory response syndrome if there is no meningitis.